PHILADELPHIA — Chad Tracy might not have made the Nationals’ Opening Day roster if not for an injury suffered by Rick Ankiel late in spring training. Little did the veteran bench player or the club know how indispensable he would become.

How indispensable? Enough to convince the Nationals to sign Tracy to a contract extension for next season right now. The two sides hashed out details over the last week and agreed to a deal before tonight’s series opener against the Phillies.

“You’re on a first-place team, 30 games over .500, and they’re offering you an extension,” Tracy said. “There’s really not a whole lot better than that.”

Terms of the contract aren’t immediately known, but the 32-year-old is expected to receive a modest raise over his $750,000 salary for 2012.Read more